Poached pears

These poached pears develop extra flavour when they are allowed to steep in the flavoursome syrup overnight, so are a useful recipe to keep on hand for when you want to make dessert in advance. Sprinkle with pistachios and serve with thick cream or ice-cream to serve. This recipe is adapted from a recipe by Suzy Karadshe.

Credit: Jiwon Kim

• serves

  6

• prep

  10 minutes

• cook

  40 minutes

• difficulty

  Easy

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episode • The Cook Up with Adam Liaw • 

cooking • 

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Ingredients

• 2 large oranges, divided
• 6 small pears
• 2 cups (500 ml) red wine
• ¼ cup (60 ml) honey
• 3 tbsp white sugar (or raw sugar)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• ¼ tsp ground cardamom
• Roughly chopped pistachios, thick cream or ice cream, to serve

Instructions

1. Finely zest and juice half the oranges, then cut the remaining oranges into 7 mm thick slices. Pour the fresh orange juice into a medium bowl. Peel the pears, then transfer directly into the orange juice (this will help prevent browning!)
   
2. Heat the wine, honey, sugar, cinnamon and cardamom in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil, then reduce the heat and add the pears and orange juice to the mixture. Top with the orange slices, cover and gently simmer for 20-30 minutes, turning the pears occasionally, until the pears are tender and cooked through. Using tongs, gently remove the pears to a bowl, then continue to reduce the syrup until it thickens.
   
3. Serve the poached pears with the syrup. Sprinkle with pistachios and serve with a dollop of thick cream or ice-cream on the side.

Photography by Jiwon Kim.

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Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.

Stream free On Demand

Sweets That Sing

episode • The Cook Up with Adam Liaw • 

cooking • 

24m

G

episode • The Cook Up with Adam Liaw • 

cooking • 

24m

G